Adapter bracket

ABSTRACT

An adapter bracket for securing metal seat and foot boards to vertical risers having a plate means at the upper end thereof. The bracket is comprised of a horizontal base portion having an elongated channel means extending downwardly from the bottom side thereof which is adapted to slidably receive a plurality of bolt members therein. The bolt members are prevented from rotation in the channel means and are received by the plate means to secure the bracket to the riser. The metal board is then secured to the bracket by means of a plurality of bolt members which extend through the bolt openings formed in the base portion. The bolt members have clips secured thereto which engage the board to facilitate the attachment of the boards to the bracket. The adapter bracket is also designed to permit the abutting ends of a pair of boards to be secured together. The bracket permits the metal boards to be substituted for the wooden planks which are commonly used as seat and foot boards in grandstands or the like.

United States Patent [72] lnventors Bill W. Sorenson;

Dane R. Kious. and Carl Denhardt, Jefferson, Iowa [21] Appl. No. 815,088[22 Filed Apr. 10,1969 [45] Patented Jan. 12, 1971 [73] AssigneeAmerican Athletic Equipment Co. Greene County, Iowa a corporation ofIowa [54] ADAPTER BRACKET 15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 108/153, 248/235 [51] Int. Cl E04h 3/10 [50] Field ofSearch248/188, 188.8, 235; 52/8, 9, 188; l08/90,97, 101, 111, 114,153,157,159, 13, 14

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,985,924 5/1961 Burke 52/83,213,570 10/1965 Abramson 52/8 Primary ExaminerRoy D. FrazierAttorneyZarley, McKee & Thomte ABSTRACT: An adapter bracket for securingmetal seat and foot boards to vertical risers having a plate means atthe upper end thereof. The bracket is comprised of a horizontal baseportion having an elongated channel means extending downwardly from thebottom side thereof which is adapted to slidably receive a plurality ofbolt members therein. The bolt members are prevented from rotation inthe channel means and are received by the plate means to secure thebracket to the riser. The metal board is then secured to the bracket bymeans of a plurality of bolt members which extend through the boltopenings formed in the base portion. The bolt members have clips securedthereto which engage the board to facilitate the attachment of theboards to the bracket. The adapter bracket is also designed to permitthe abutting ends of a pair of boards to be secured together. Thebracket permits the metal boards to be substituted for the wooden plankswhich are commonly used as seat and foot boards in grandstands or thelike.

' bracket which perniits'the v {A1,ililfli 3lt BRACKET f This inventionrelates to anadapter bracket and more particularly pertains to anadapter bracket'which is adapted to be secured to a conventional riserfound in grandstands or the like to permit a metal board or plank to besubstituted for the wooden planks.

Grandstandsfstadiurns, bleachers, etc: which were constructed several-years ago'usually used wooden planks or boards as seat and foot boards.These'wooden planks are com- 7 Therefore, it is aLprincipalobject of"this invention to provide an adapter bracket for securing rrital seatand'foot boards to conventional vertical risers; v

A runner object of this-*inventioriis' as provide an adapter bracket forsecuring aluminum seat and footboards to conventional vertical riserswhich includes meansto facilitate the quick and easy attachment of-theboards to the risers.

A further object of this invention" is to provide and adapter bracketfor'securing'alurninurnseat and foot boards to vertical riserswherein'the'bracket-is'formed of extruded aluminum.

' A further object fof this invention ism provide an adapter abuttingends of two planksto be secured thereto.

' A further objectof this invention'is to'provide an adapter bracket.which includes an elongated channel on the bottom thereof whichfslidably,receives'bolt'mer'iibers to perrnit the bolt members robe slidablymoved withrespect to the riser to facilitate the attachment of thebrackettothe riser.

A further object'of thisinventlon is to provide an adapter bracket forsecuring aluminum seat and foot boards to vertical risers which iseconomical of manufacture; durable in use and refined in appearance: f fv a These and other'objects will be apparent to those skilled in h art.i

- This inventionconsists in theconstructiom arrangements, andcombination of the variouspa'rts. of the device, whereby the objects.contemplated are attained. as hereinafter more fully set forth,specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustratedin'theaccompanying drawings, in whichz FIG. 1 is a fragmentary explodedperspective view of a conventional riser and the wooden board which is,to be replaced;

FIG.-2 -is an exploded perspective view ofthe adapter bracket and thealuminum plank to be secured thereto;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top elevational view of a pair of seat boardsplaced in abutting end to endrelati'onship, the broken lines indicatingthe relative location of the adapter brackets;

FIG. 4 is anenlarged sectional view as seen along lines4-4 of FIG. 3with portions thereof cut away to more fully illustrate the invention; s

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view as seen along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3 withportions thereof cut away tomore fully illustrate the invention; 1

FIG. 6 is an exploded "perspective view of the fastener used f to securethe plank to the'adapterb'racket; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view-seen FIG.3.

The numeral I0 generallydesignates a conventional grandstand riserhaving an elongated plate 12 secured to the upper end of a post 14. Theplate 12 is of conventional construction and is sometimesreplacedbyanelongated angle or the like Plate 12 is provided with apairyof'bolt-openings 16 and 18 :formed therein which are adaptedto.receive the bolts 20 and 22 respectively for attaching a conventionalwooden seat or foot board 24 to the riser.} p

The numeral 26 generally refers to'aj metal plank which is to besubstituted for the wooden board 2 4. 'P referably, the plank '26 isconstructed of extruded aluminum and includes a top extend inwardly fromthe lower ends of front and back portions 30 and 32 respectively. Lips38 and) extend upwardly from the inner ends of horizontal portions 34and 36 respectively. Plank 26 also includes a center support means 46which is of general inverted T-shape having a'lower end 48. An end cap50 is adapted to embrace one end of the plank 26 as illustrated in FIG.2 and is maintained thereon by a pair of screws 52 and 54 extendingthrough end cap 50 and the openings 56 and 58 respectively in plank 28.a

The adapter bracket of this invention is generally designated by thereference numeral 60 and is preferably constructed of extruded aluminum.Bracket 60 includes a generally rectangular base portion 62 having boltopenings 64, 66, 68 and 70 extending therethroug'h at the comersthereof. An elongated channel means 72 is provided on the bottom of baseportion 62 and is generally comprised :of a pair of vertical sidewalls74 and 76 extending downwardly from base portion 62. Flange portions 78and 80 extend inwardly from the lower ends of sidewalls 74 and 76respectively and terminate in a spaced relationship with respect toeach'other so as to provide an opening 82 therebetween. The distanc'ebetween the inner ends of flange portions I8v and 80 is such to permitthe shank portion 84 of a bolt means: 86 to extend downwardlytherethrough while preventing the head portion 88 of the bolt means 86from passing therethroug h. Bolt means 86 is a standard truss headmachine screw having 'aslot 90 formed in the head portion thereof whichis adapted to ordinarily receive a screwdriver or the like. Boltmeans86includes a standard lock nut 92. As best illustrated in F IG. 5,bracket 60 includes an elongated ridge 94"which extends downwardly fromthe bottom of base portion 62 between sidewalls 74 and 76 and which isadapted to be received-by the slot 90 of the bolt means 86 when boltmeans has been slidably inserted into the channel means 72 to preventrotation of the bolt means 86 when lock nut 92 is threadably movedthereon.

The installation procedure is as follows: The bolts 20 and 22 would beremoved from the riser 10 and, the board 24 would be removed therefromand dis'cardedThe adapter bracket 60 60 on the riser 10. It should benoted that the bracket 60 can also be slidably moved with respect to theriser 10 by simply loosening the bolt means 86 to reposition the bracket60 with respect thereto. l

The plank 26 is then secured to the adapter bracket 60 by inserting thebolts 96, upwardly through certain of the openings 64, 66, 68 and 70.Bolts 96 are of the lock head type and are adapted tothreadably receiveflat weld nuts 98 thereon (FIG. 6).

on lines 7-7 of Y at one side of base portion 102 while an upstandingflange 108 is provided at the other side thereof. As seen in FIG. 6.bolt 96 is adapted to extend upwardly through opening 104 so that thebolt 96 may be threadably received by the nut 98. Channel which wouldhavea top portion corresp di om la 12, a 106 and flange 108 prevent nut98 from rotating while bolt 96 .40. Thus, the bolts 96 are extendedupwardly through certain of the openings 64, 66, 68 and 70 and clampsmounted thereon by thenuts 98 as previously described and as illustratedin FIG. 4. The tightening of the bolt 98 maintains the channel 106 overthe lip 38 or 40 to maintain the plank on the adapter bracket. Theconfiguration of the clamps 100 also permits selective slidable movementof the plank with respect to the adapter bracket 60 if desired. Theopening 107 defined by channel 106 has a width slightly greater than thethickness of the lip 40 to provide compensation for slight variations inthe width of the plank 26 or its position on bracket 60. The lower end109 of channel 106 engages horizontal portion 36 to prevent slidablemovement of the plank 26 with respect to the bracket 60. FIG. 3illustrates the manner in which the planks 26 are secured to the variousadapter brackets. For example, when the adapter bracket merely supportsa single seat board, as illustrated at the left side of FIG. 3, a pairof bolts 96 are inserted through opposite corners of the bracket. Whenthe bracket supports abutting ends of two planks, four of the bolts 96are inserted through the bracket 60 as illustrated at the center portionof FIG. 3. When the mounting bracket 60 is being used to support footboards, it is recommended that four bolts 96 be inserted through thebracket 60 to provide additional support. The four bolts in the mountingbracket reduces the twist in the plank when people would walk on thesame.

The adapter bracket described herein permits aluminum planks to besubstituted for the wooden seat and foot boards found in existinggrandstands, bleachers, stadiums, etc. with a minimum amount of effortand expense. The adapter bracket 60 permits the planks 26 to be mountedon the existing metal seat support. The adapter plate described hereinpermits the metal planks 26 to be installed in the existing grandstandswithout the necessity of completely altering the existing risers whichgreatly reduces the time and expense normally associated with such aconversion operation. The fact that the bracket 60 is of extrudedaluminum construction permits the bracket to be economically andefficiently manufactured. Thus it can be seen that the bracketaccomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of ouradapter bracket without departing from the real spirit and purpose ofour invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claims, anymodified fomis of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which maybe reasonably included within their scope.

We claim:

1. In an adapter bracket for securing an elongated horizontally disposedsupport member to an upstanding riser having a horizontal plate portionat the upper end thereof, said plate portion having a plurality ofopenings extending through, comprising:

said bracket including a base portion having a plurality of openingsformed therein, and top and bottom sides;

said bracket including a base portion having a plurality of openingsformed therein, and top and bottom sides;

said base portion having a channel means positioned at its bottom sideadapted to slidably receive at least a pair of bolt members therein sothat said bolt members extend downwardly therefrom to permit said boltmembers to extend downwardly through said openings in said plateportion; and

said bracket adapted to have said support member mounted thereon by boltmembers extending through said openings in said base portion and beingoperatively secured to said support member. Wherein said support meansincludes a top portion having front and rear wall portions extendingdownwardly therefrom, first and second horizontal portions extendinginwardly from the lower ends of said front and rear wall portionsrespectively, and an upstanding lip extending upwardly from the innerend of each of said first and second horizontal portion, each of saidbolt members having a clamp means mounted thereon above said baseportion, each of said clamp means having a channel means extending overthe lip adjacent thereto to maintain said plank on said bracket.

2. The bracket of claim I wherein each of said bolt members has a locknut threadably mounted thereon, said channel means preventing rotationof said lock nut when said bolt member is threadably moved with respectthereto.

3. ln an adapter bracket for securing an elongated horizontally disposedsupport member to an upstanding riser having a horizontal plate portionat the upper end thereof, said plate portion having a plurality ofopenings extending through. comprising:

said bracket including a base portion-havinga plurality of openingsformed therein. and top and bottom sides;

said base portion having a channel means positioned at its bottom sideadapted to slidably receive at least a pair of bolt members therein sothat said bolt members extend downwardly therefrom to permit said boltmembers to extend downwardly through said openings in said plateportion;

said bracket adapted to have said support member mounted thereon by boltmembers extending through said openings in said base portion and beingoperatively secured to said support member; and

wherein said support member includes a top portion having front and rearwalls, portions extending downwardly therefrom, a first horizontalportionextending rearwardly from the lower end of said front wallportion, a first lip portion extgnding upwardly from the rearward end ofsaid first horizontal portion, a second horizontal portion extendingforwardly from the lower end of said rear wall portion, a second lipportion extending upwardly from the forward end of said secondhorizontal portion, each of said bolt members extending upwardly throughsaid base portion having a clamp means mounted thereon, each of saidclamp means including a base portion through which said bolt memberextends, and an inverted U-shaped channel means at one side of said baseportion, said channel means extending over one of said lip portions,said bolt membei' having a nut means threadably mounted thereon.

4. The bracke'tof claim 3 wherein said inverted U-shaped channel meansincludes spaced apart wall members defining an opening therebetween,said opening having a width greater than the thickness of said lipportion, one of said wall members having a lower end engaging saidhorizontal portion.

5. In combination, at least a pair of spaced apart, upstanding risershaving horizontally disposed plate portions secured to the upper endsthereof, an adapter bracket detachably mounted on each of said plateportions, and a metal support member securedto and extending betweensaid adapter brackets, each of said plate portions having at least firstand second bolt openings formed therein, said support member havingvertically spaced, inwardly extending flanges each of said adapterbrackets including a base portion having a plurality of openings andmeans associated with openings for engaging the flanges and securingsaid support member thereto, each of said brackets including a channelmeans extending downwardly therefrom which is supported by said platepor tions, and at least a pair of bolts mounted in said channel meansand extending through said plate portion.

6. The bracket of claim 11 wherein said base portion has a widthsufficient to support abutting end portions of a pair of supportmembers.

7. The bracket of claim 5 wherein said channel means includes a pair. ofspaced apart vertical walls extending downwardly from the bottom side ofsaid base portion, said walls having horizontal portions extendinginwardly towards each other from the lower ends thereof, the inner endsof said horizontal portions being spaced apart a sufficient distance topermit the threaded portion of the bolt members to extend downwardlytherebetween, said distance between said horizontal portions being lessthan the diameter of .the head portion of said bolt members.

8. The bracketof claim 7 wherein said base portion has an elongatedridge portion at its bottom side which extends downwardly therefrombetween said walls, said ridge portion adapted to extend into a slotformed in said bolt member to prevent rotation of said bolt members;

9. The bracket of claim 8 wherein said bracket is of extruded aluminumconstruction.

10. The bracket of claim 7 wherein-said bracket is selectively slidablysecured to said horizontal plate portion.

11. The bracket of claim 7 wherein said base portion is substantiallyrectangular in shape and has openings formed in its comer areas, saidbase portion having an. area greater than the area of said horizontalplate portion, said horizontal portions of said channel means adapted toengage the upper surface of said plate portion.

12. The combination of claim 5 wherein said bolts in said 'tion of saidbolts.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein said base portion has an elongatedridge portion at its bottom side which extends downwardly, said ridgeportion being received in a slot formed in said bolt members to preventrotation of said bolt members.

1. In an adapter bracket for securing an elongated horizontally disposedsupport member to an upstanding riser having a horizontal plate portionat the upper end thereof, said plate portion having a plurality ofopenings extending through, comprising: said bracket including a baseportion having a plurality of openings formed therein, and top andbottom sides; said bracket including a base portion having a pluralityof openings formed therein, and top and bottom sides; said base portionhaving a channel means positioned at its bottom side adapted to slidablyreceive at least a pair of bolt members therein so that said boltmembers extend downwardly therefrom to permit said bolt members toextend downwardly through said openings in said plate portion; and saidbracket adapted to have said support member mounted thereon by boltmembers extending through said openings in said base portion and beingoperatively secured to said support member. Wherein said support meansincludes a top portion having front and rear wall portions extendingdownwardly therefrom, first and second horizontal portions extendinginwardly from the lower ends of said front and rear wall portionsrespectively, and an upstanding lip extending upwardly from the innerend of each of said first and second horizontal portion, each of saidbolt members having a clamp means mounted thereon above said baseportion, each of said clamp means having a channel means extending overthe lip adjacent thereto to maintain said plank on said bracket.
 2. Thebracket of claim 1 wherein each of said bolt members has a lock nutthreadably mounted thereon, said channel means preventing rotation ofsaid lock nut when said bolt member is threadably moved with respectthereto.
 3. In an adapter bracket for securing an elongated horizontallydisposed support member to an upstanding riser having a horizontal plateportion at the upper end thereof, said plate portion having a pluralityof openings extending through, comprising: said bracket including a baseportion having a plurality of openings formed therein, and top andbottom sides; said base portion having a channel means positioned at itsbottom side adapted to slidably receive at least a pair of bolt memberstherein so that said bolt members extend downwardly therefrom to permitsaid bolt members to extend downwardly through said openings in saidplate portion; said bracket adapted to have said support member mountedthereon by bolt members extending through said openings in said baseportion and being operatively secured to said support member; andwherein said support member includes a top portion having front and rearwalls, portions extending downwardly therefrom, a first horizontalportion extending rearwardly from the lower end of said front wallportion, a first lip portion extending upwardly from the rearward end ofsaid first horizontal portion, a second horizontal portion extendingforwardly from the lower end of said rear wall portion, a second lipportion extending upwardly from the forward end of said secondhorizontal portion, each of said bolt members extending upwardly throughsaid base portion having a clamp means mounted thereon, each of saidclamp means including a base portion through which said bolt memberextends, and an inverted U-shaped channel means at one side of said baseportion, said channel means extending over one of said lip portions,said bolt member having a nut means threadably mounted thereon.
 4. Thebracket of claim 3 wherein said inverted U-shaped channel means includesspaced apart wall members defining an opening therebetween, said openinghaving a width greater than the thickness of said lip portion, one ofsaid wall members having a lower end engaging said horizontal portion.5. In combination, at least a pair of spaced apart, upstanding risershaving horizontally disposed plate portions secured to the upper endsthereof, an adapter bracket detachably mounted on each of said plateportions, and a metal support member secured to and extending betweensaid adapter brackets, each of said plate portions having at least firstand second bolt openings formed therein, said support member havingvertically spaced, inwardly extending flanges each of said adapterbrackets including a base portion having a plurality of openings andmeans associated with openings for engaging the flanges and securingsaid support member thereto, each of said brackets including a channelmeans extending downwardly therefrom which is supported by said plateportions, and at least a pair of bolts mounted in said channel means andextending through said plate portion.
 6. The bracket of claim 11 whereinsaid base portion has a width sufficient to support abutting endportions of a pair of support members.
 7. The bracket of claim 5 whereinsaid channel means includes a pair of spaced apart vertical wallsextending downwardly from the bottom side of said base portion, saidwalls having horizontal portions extending inwardly towards each otherfrom the lower ends thereof, the inner ends of said horizontal portionsbeing spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit the threaded portionof the bolt members to extend downwardly therebetween, said distancebetween said horizontal portions being less than the diameter of thehead portion of said bolt members.
 8. The bracket of claim 7 whereinsaid base portion has an elongated ridge portion at its bottom sidewhich extends downwardly therefrom between said walls, said ridgeportion adapted to extend into a slot formed in said bolt member toprevent rotation of said bolt members.
 9. The bracket of claim 8 whereinsaid bracket is of extruded aluminum construction.
 10. The bracket ofclaim 7 wherein said bracket is selectively slidably secured to saidhorizontal plate portion.
 11. The bracket of claim 7 wherein said baseportion is substantially rectangular in shape and has openings formed inits corner areas, said base portion having an area greater than the areaof said horizontal plate portion, said horizontal portions of saidchannel means adapted to engage the upper surface of said plate portion.12. The combination of claim 5 wherein said bolts in said channel meansare selectively slidably mounted therein to permit said bolts toregister with the openings in said plate portion.
 13. The bracket of ofclaim 5 wherein said bracket and said support member are of extrudedaluminum construction.
 14. The structure of claim 5 wherein lock meansis provided in each of said channel means engaging said bolts to limitrotation of said bolts.
 15. The structure of claim 14 wherein said baseportion has an elongated ridge portion at its bottom side which extendsdownwardly, said ridge portion being received in a slot formed in saidbolt members to prevent rotation of said bolt members.